One important thing to remember: Even if you lose your second level appeal, you still have options. You can request an Overpayment Waiver if repayment would cause extraordinary hardship and your overpayment wasn't due to fraud. There's a specific form for this (DE 1446W). Many people don't know about this option.

I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to share some encouragement. I'm currently caring for my disabled spouse and had to refuse a job that required travel 50% of the time. EDD initially said I should have taken it, but I won my first level appeal by emphasizing that California law specifically protects caregivers under the "suitable work" provisions. The key is showing that your caregiving duties aren't just a preference - they're a necessity that makes certain work schedules genuinely unsuitable. Document everything about your mother's care needs and your role as her sole caregiver. The fact that it was night shifts makes your case even stronger since that would literally prevent you from providing necessary care. Don't give up - the second level appeal is definitely worth pursuing, especially with the specific legal arguments others have mentioned here.

I went through this exact same thing about 8 months ago! Got denied for "insufficient wages" but kept getting certification emails every two weeks. It was so confusing and stressful. Here's what I learned: the certification system runs independently from the determination system, so you can be denied but still be expected to certify. The key thing is to KEEP CERTIFYING while you appeal - I can't stress this enough. When my appeal was eventually approved, I only got paid for the weeks I had properly certified for. A few things that helped me: - I appealed within the 30-day window (super important!) - I specifically requested alternate base period consideration in my appeal letter - I included copies of ALL my recent pay stubs, even from jobs that seemed too short to matter - I kept detailed records of my job search activities for every week I certified The whole process took about 7 weeks for me, but I got backpay for everything. Don't let the denial discourage you - with his recent work history, the alternate base period could totally change the outcome. The system is frustrating but it does work eventually if you stay on top of it. Good luck with the appeal! Feel free to ask if you have questions about the process.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! My wife was denied for "insufficient wages in base period" but we're still getting those certification emails every week. It's such a relief to see this thread and know we're not alone in this confusing mess. Based on all the advice here, we're definitely going to: 1. Keep certifying for every week (even though it feels weird after being denied) 2. File an appeal and specifically request the alternate base period 3. Gather all pay stubs from her recent jobs The thing about the base period looking at older quarters makes so much sense now - she just started working again after being out of the workforce for a while, so the standard base period probably misses most of her recent earnings. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! It gives me hope that this can actually work out if we stay persistent with the process. The EDD system is definitely broken but at least there seems to be a path forward. @Dananyl Lear - please do update us on how your appeal goes. I think a lot of us are in similar boats and would love to hear about any progress!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get this resolved? For others who might have this same issue in the future, another option is to visit an in-person EDD office with your ID. They can verify your identity in person and help reset your online access without needing the payment information.

Glad you got it resolved! This is such a common issue and your experience will definitely help others. For future reference, it might be worth downloading and saving important documents like payment history or tax forms right after you access them, since these password reset requirements seem to get more strict over time. EDD really needs to update their security verification methods to something more reasonable than expecting people to remember payment amounts from years ago.

FYI - just so you're prepared - when you certify and report income, your payment can be delayed that week while they review it. Happened to me several times when I was doing Uber on the side. Sometimes got stuck in pending for 3-5 days instead of getting paid right away.

Just wanted to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - keep detailed records of ALL your 1099 work! Save screenshots of your TaskRabbit earnings, dates you worked, and any communication with clients. EDD can audit your claim at any time, and having documentation makes everything much smoother if they have questions. Also, since you're doing gig work, you might want to set aside about 25-30% of those earnings for taxes. As a 1099 worker, you're responsible for paying self-employment tax on top of regular income tax. It's not related to your UI benefits, but it'll save you stress come tax time! One more tip - if any of your TaskRabbit gigs turn into regular recurring work with the same client, that could potentially be considered "suitable work" that you might be required to continue. Just something to keep in mind as you balance gig work with your job search.

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone helpful! After calling about 20 times this morning, I reached a Tier 2 specialist who looked into my case. Apparently, my appeal reversal was sitting in a queue waiting for manual review. The specialist said she would escalate it and marked it as "urgent" since it's been over 30 days since the judge's decision. She said I should see movement within 5-7 business days and to call back if nothing changes by next Friday. She also confirmed I should receive a Notice of Adjustment before any payment is processed, so I'll be watching for that. At least now I have a somewhat definite timeline and someone who actually looked at my specific case instead of giving me generic information. Thanks everyone for your advice and support! I'll post another update when (hopefully) I get my money.

This is so helpful to read everyone's experiences! I'm dealing with a similar situation - won my appeal in October and still waiting for my repayment. The inconsistent timelines from different reps is the most frustrating part. One told me "any day now" three weeks ago, another said it could be 2-3 more months! @Yara Abboud - really glad you finally got someone who could actually help and escalate your case. That gives me hope that persistence pays off. I'm definitely going to try asking specifically for a Tier 2 specialist next time I call instead of just accepting whatever the first rep tells me. Has anyone had luck with the assembly member route? I'm in Orange County and thinking about reaching out to mine if this drags on much longer.